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23 December 1864
Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901
to my dear wife
He warns her there may be some hard times. He mentioned previously that they would leave today but they are low on money.
GLC02740.13
25 December 1864
He has had a lovely Christmas and spent most of it asleep. He wants her to send a picture of herself. Once again, he tells her to have more confidence in him, for he has only spoken to one woman since he left. He says "I know I am a wicked man, but I...
GLC02740.14
26 December 1864
He is sad because he has not received any mail from her.
GLC02740.15
29 December 1864
He is going to have his picture taken, though it may be expensive. Everything on the island costs three times as much. He sent her more money express. He may sell his watch.
GLC02740.16
6 January 1865
He is on his way to Virginia. Iti is raining hard outside the tent while he writes. He describes the country as fine. There is one company from New York with them. He wishes she could be with them. Written at City Point- now named Hopewell
GLC02740.17
11 January 1865
The country is fine but he would enjoy it more if she were with him.. Grant's army is about 7 miles away. He mentions the next time he will send money.
GLC02740.18
12 January 1865
He is sick with a bad cold and cough. In other news they have not got their rifles yet. There will probably not be any fighting for some time. He asks her to send 4 stockings.
GLC02740.19
17 January 1865
There is talk of settling up at their present location. Where they are now was the site of a battleground last Spring. Tomorrow there is an inspection so everything has to be very clean.
GLC02740.20
23 January 1865
He received her picture. They have been in their present location without rifles and nothing to do for quite a while. He tells her to take good care of his babies.
GLC02740.21
29 January 1865
He tells the horrific story of having witnessed a prisoner's hanging.
GLC02740.22
3 February 1865
There is a battle going on now. He says if she could only see the women she accuses him of consorting with. They are all ugly and he wouldn't want to hug them.
GLC02740.23
6 February 1865
He expects the heaviest fighting to be done in the Spring, but he is not afraid. He describes a friend of his in the company. He asks her to send him a hat.
GLC02740.24
7 February 1865
It is snowing. They are told they must protect City Point now as the Rebels are fighting to the front. All night long, the wagons have come through with the sick and wounded. He complains about his mother whom he says abused him as a child.
GLC02740.25
December 1865
He mentions a man who enlisted three different times under three different names. He speaks of having seen hard times and harder sights yet, but his heart remains steadfast in his love for her,
GLC02740.26
18 February 1865
He requests mittens and asks her to write more often.
GLC02740.27
28 February 1865
He wants her to write more. He talks of searching for beans for breakfast but coming up empty-handed. He draws a picture full of dots and says it represents kisses for her and the baby.
GLC02740.28
3 March 1865
Some of the company has been sick but they have fattened up since they arrived 2 years sgo. He has gone through a lot of pens because of his letter writing and had to nuy more ink,
GLC02740.29
4 March 1865
He does not think the Rebels will be able to fight much longer. He suspects the war will be settled in the summer.
GLC02740.30
8 March 1865
very difficult to read.
GLC02740.31
11 March 1865
One of the lieutenants deserted to see his parents, but they caught him and sentenced him to be shot. The weather is quite warm now. They have their guns now.
GLC02740.32
19 March 1865
They have been under constant marching orders. They are now a few minutes walk from Rebel lines.
GLC02740.33
14 March 1865
He is sorry to hear the baby is sick. He is currently in the book house, just killing time. The Rebels currently have to keep shooting across lines all night to prevent deserters.
GLC02740.34
15 March 1865
He forgives her for writing "that letter," but does not say what was in the letter. He has got four months pay now besides the bounty money at his disposal.
GLC02740.35
23 March 1865
He is in site of the Rebels' picket line. They plan to surround them and starve them. They can't last much longer. He thinks he will come out all right.
GLC02740.36
26 March 1865
He describes a battle in which the Rebels lost 400 people.
GLC02740.37
28 March 1865
The Rebels lost 3,000 soldiers recently.He describes their efforts to take care of the dying and wounded.
GLC02740.38
19 April 1865
He warns her not to expect him home in a few months. It could be the rest of the year. He guesses that every day since they left they have marched about 300 miles.
GLC02740.39
26 April 1865
He has been feeling sick lately. He reassures her that he won't be reenlisting. He tells her to keep up the courage, for he will be coming home soon.
GLC02740.40
29 April 1865
He talks of wanting to come home. He speculates on when they may begin discharging soldiers. He also mentions seeing all the wounded from the last battle and how devastating it was.
GLC02740.41
1865
He has a bad cough. He plans to send her a picture of gallups island and city point. He will soon witness a man getting shot. They plan to shoot him so that he falls into the coffin. He worries his heart will get hardened to such sights.
GLC02740.46
His cough is getting better. He talks of wanting to go home and the nice times they will have.
GLC02740.47
They are going to be sent to Maine as sharpshooters since they cannot be put anywhere else in the United States. He sees a lot of Rebels coming in lately and describes them as good-looking, smart men.
GLC02740.48
There is a heavy battle going on nearby. They, on the other hand, are still having good times. They do not have their rifles yet. He reminds Lizzie that she is always in his prayers.
GLC02740.49
1861-1877
to Unknown
The author encloses a picture the boys gave to him. The picture is unidentified but is most likely Wilmot Thompson. He is shown with the picture of a car in the background.
GLC02740.50
Short timeline of major events in Wilmot Thompson's life
Starts with when he enlisted in the Maine Sharphooters.
GLC02740.51
8 February 1866
He has not felt well for a while. He is sorry to hear the baby is sick. He writes that he always thinks of the friendship they share.
GLC02740.52
Partial letter later used for scratch paper: He is very glad someone wrote to him and asks that his respects be given to Miss Whiting.
GLC02740.53
to Lizzie
He is missing her very badly and says he has taken a picture of her with him.
GLC02740.54
Application for Pension from J.B. Cralle & Co.
GLC02740.55
Application for Disability from J.B. Cralle & Co.
GLC02740.56
Copy of GLC02740.56.
GLC02740.57
Application for Membership in Grand Army Republic
GLC02740.59
J.B., Crall, & Co., 1861-1877
From J.B Crall & Co., U.S Claim and Pension Attorney
GLC02740.60
6 January 1883
Advertisement for Opera called Patience
GLC02740.61
15 July 1883
to daughter
He ate some good strawberries recently. He is sorry to hear of her leg troubles.
GLC02740.62
31 March 1861
Coffen, Sallie, fl. 1860
to sister Lizzie
No year: Everyone is well, though Father still smokes.She would like to come home in the Fall. She visited John recently. She mentions the Crocker boys.
GLC02740.63
"War Letter--From Father"
No other words, appears to be scrap paper.
GLC02740.64
17 October 1879
Farnsworth, Swiftford, fl. 1879
to WIlmot Thompson
"Albert Farnsworth's wife died last night."
GLC02740.65
Christmas Envelope
Features red pointsetta.
GLC02740.66
8 September 1862
Thomson, George F., fl. 1862-1865
to Mother
He gives her instructions on how to divide his property in case he doesn't return.
GLC02743.01
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